Rat Rod Cruiser Bicycle Build - Start To Finish!

In this video I take an old klunker of an Evans Colson Bicycle and restore it back to a rideable Rat Rod / Hot Rod styled cruiser bike. I strip it all the way down to a bare frame and then build it back up with a combination of new and vintage parts. In the end it is a great rider that I will enjoy for years!
Thanks for watching!
EvanWells07
#bicycle #bikebuild #ratrod

[@EvanWells07]

I had a lot of fun with this! It's been a while since I built a bike. Let me know if you'd like to see more bike content!

[@nomvonglismerced4311]

gonna turn mine into rigid DH mtb

[@troytaylor1913]

I'm rebuilding an old BMX I ended up upgrading everything. I stripped it down to the bare metal and it's getting painted pearl white, grips, seat, petals, and some other components are blue, No decals those are spun gold leafed, and painted under a clear coat. Everything but the headset is converted to sealed bearings, locking Bulldog brakes, and double-wall racing wheels and I converted it to a 3-speed freewheel with a Shimano derailer. I got about 500 bucks into it. I named it Smurf because of the colors, really it is beautiful. I built it because I built a Bombshell Avent BMX 9-speed Lowrider show bike I don't want to ride that one, it has 20-inch wheels but it's a large bike with a 21.5-inch top tube. BMX with twisted chrome and a banana seat you would love it. My first bike build was around 1972 when I was a kid it was in worse condition than your Evans but I got it tuned up after replacing the spokes. I've been building my own bikes since then I started building show bikes on occasion about 20 years ago, my first show bike I built 30 years ago it was a 1976 Schwinn 15-speed World Sport, it was stolen about a week later after I finished it, It never made it to a show.

[@EvanWells07]

Those all sound awesome!! I really want to do a traditional lowrider bike at some point! As much as I am into custom vehicles, bikes will always have a spot with me. They are what I learned to wrench on and gave me freedom as a kid to go where ever I could pedal to! Thanks for watching, and hopefully I will have more bike stuff to come!

[@troytaylor1913]

@@EvanWells07 I put thousands of miles on bikes. I have commuted to work and back for years. The last time it was dirt roads and sand so I had a Gary Fisher mountain bike. Bikes are a game changer if you're a student. When I was a kid Schwinn Stingrays were the BMX. The Bombshell bike is my 1960s kid vision of what a new bike should look like. A BMX with BMX handlebars a banana seat, pinstriped fenders, twisted chrome, and lots of sprockets. Not traditional. It's more like a Low-rider Frankenstein but very cool looking. I named it Frankenstein.

[@raybennett8399]

Very cool. I have a 1980s, black huffy. I picked up for like 40 bucks beach cruiser. It's all original, but I do like the idea of the ape hangers I like the idea of throwing a little clear on there. I need to do the front hubs. Did you ever consider doing the? Rear hubs. I saw some very good videos on how to do it. Yeah, the huffy is black and Chrome. I have an old Brooks saddle with Springs, I'm going to put on And maybe paint the leather On the Brooks, what's leather paint I'm thinking the color ox blood. And painting over the Shane guard, it says, good vibrations, I'm thinking of pinning over that with oxbled as well and shine up the Chrome, but anyway, great vid Hey, ever put ape hangers-on a Schwinn, varsity, 10 speed frame, I was thinking about that as well. Anyway great job

[@EvanWells07]

Thanks. I didn't rebuild the rear hub because it was good, the front one was super loose and dry. I've never put bars on a varsity (never owned one) but put some on my typhoon that you can see in the background of the video. All your ideas sound good on the bike, and are worth a shot, worst case if you don't like them, change it again. That's the fun about bikes is everything is pretty inexpensive and not a ton of time to do! Thanks again for checking out the video!

[@raybennett8399]

Hey, thanks for the reply. Yeah, very true. You could always switch 'em out and make a real live clunker. But anyway, I'm a truck driver and I can't wait to get home and I have a specialized in the truck. That I used to be bopping around, but I'm not really into the aluminum. I'm thinking about trading that thing in or I have a cannondale frame in the shed, and I was thinking about putting those 700 rims and tires on the cannondale frame and see if I fit it. I've never tried anything with that, but I like to steal better. Anyway, thanks a lot for the. Reply back have a great day

[@caddi70]

Looks good all cleaned up, but it's not even close to what rat-rod means

[@EvanWells07]

I get it's not rat rod in the traditional sense, more of the modern sense. Patina, white walls, a touch of style in the bars and grips. Still using some of the old parts with wear and character while also being slightly "stripped down". Maybe my Schwinn is more rat rod?

[@SpiritedWrenchers]

Cool old bike and project. Thanks for sharing.

[@EvanWells07]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@SpiritedWrenchers]

@@EvanWells07 wouldn't miss it

[@TheCandyman024]

Love the lowrider build! What size wheels are you using on the Red lowrider

[@EvanWells07]

On the truck? They are 22s.

[@RadioSaladStudios]

Well done. It inspires me to finish out a cruiser much the same. Thanks.

[@EvanWells07]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@coetroy]

Super sick man!

[@EvanWells07]

Thanks!

[@frankcastle3827]

I would really like to know what brand of tires you used for this restoration..

[@EvanWells07]

26" x 1.95 Road City Cavallier Tires is what they were called in the eBay listing.

[@frankcastle3827]

@@EvanWells07 oh sweet! Thanks man! I appreciate it

[@EvanWells07]

@frankcastle3827 I just checked and you can still get them on eBay.

[@frankcastle3827]

@@EvanWells07 sweet! Heck yea!!

[@jamesmeredith381]

I have my old Raleigh Chopper Bicycles with the shifter in the middle a 3 speed, and 2 5 speeds & a Evil Knievel bike and 13 different styles of Chopper Bicycles!

[@EvanWells07]

Nice!

[@boogiechassis7726]

Sweet bike! I like the new tires, shame the fenders don't fit. It might even look better without them!

[@EvanWells07]

Yeah I really like the fenders too. I kept them just in case I decide to change it up later.

[@aaronb554]

Man, cutting those fenders would be a shame, but it would look cool! What kind of grease do you use on the pedal set and head stock?

[@EvanWells07]

Yeah that's why I left the fenders off, I didn't want to mess them up. I use high temp wheel bearing grease on all the bearings.

[@YellowJacketGarage]

Had to catch up on some videos so I'm dropping by to make sure I see this one too! Thanks for the vid Brother!

[@EvanWells07]

Thanks for following along! I appreciate it!

[@YellowJacketGarage]

@EvanWells07 cool build. Always fun putting stuff back in use instead of throwing it out too.😎

[@EvanWells07]

For sure. My dad meant for me to just hang it and it be a conversation piece because of the name. I like to use stuff :)

[@alejandroruizzavala9312]

Cool

[@EvanWells07]

Thanks

[@roddinandracin1153]

Love it

[@EvanWells07]

Thanks!

[@alexrudon990]

Man, I like those tires.. What brand are they? Great project..

[@EvanWells07]

They were on eBay listed as "City Cavallier" white wall tires. I just searched by the size I wanted and found them.